Police challenged over Omagh

Michael Gallagher's 21-year-old son Aidan died in the Omagh bombing

Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims have met senior police chiefs in the Irish Republic.

At talks in Monaghan on Friday, they came face-to-face for the first time with garda detectives who are investigating the 1998 Real IRA attack.

Twenty-nine men, women and children died and hundreds were injured when the Real IRA detonated a car bomb in the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998 - a Saturday when the centre was full of shoppers.

The victims' families wanted to find out about a man alleged to have stolen the car used in the bombing.

The families were also seeking assurances that detectives are cooperating fully with their lawyers in a multi-million pound civil action against five men.

It was very helpful to meet the people directing the investigation and let them know of our concern

Michael Gallagher

Relatives of those killed in the atrocity are suing the five men they blame for the Omagh bombing for £10m.

In January this year, lawyers representing the families lodged a legal document which confirmed the scale of the damages they want awarded against Michael McKevitt, 51; Liam Campbell, 38; Colm Murphy, 51; Seamus McKenna, 49, and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.

Writs were served against all five last July by the relatives' solicitors.

Tough questions

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 people and two unborn babies killed in the bombing, was among those who attended the meeting.

Speaking afterwards he said: "We have urged both the Garda and the PSNI to co-operate fully," he said.

"What we all want is to see those responsible for Omagh behind bars.

"We were given assurances that they will work to that end.

As the fifth anniversary of the bomb approaches, Mr Gallagher said a number of issues were discussed with Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty and Detective Superintendent Tadhg Foley, many of which could not be aired in public.

"We left the Garda team in no doubt about what we expected of them," he added.

"It was very helpful to meet the people directing the investigation and let them know of our concern."

No murder charges

The families are trying to raise enough cash for their High Court action later this year.

Two of the men who were served with civil writs accusing them of carrying out the Omagh bombing are to contest the case brought against them.

Solicitors acting for Liam Campbell and Michael McKevitt lodged papers with the High Court in Belfast declaring their intention to defend themselves.

Both men are being held in Portlaoise Prison in the Irish Republic on terrorist offences unconnected with Omagh.

Last year, Colm Murphy received a 14-year jail sentence for plotting to cause an explosion at the time of the Omagh bomb.

He is the only person convicted in connection with the bombing.